MNA Disaster Response

“If you spend yourselves in behalf of the hungry and satisfy the needs of the oppressed, then your light will rise in the darkness, and your night will become like the noonday. The Lord will guide you always; he will satisfy your needs in a sun-scorched land and will strengthen your frame. You will be like a well-watered garden, like a spring whose waters never fail. Your people will rebuild the ancient ruins and will raise up the age-old foundations; you will be called Repairer of Broken Walls, Restorer of Streets with Dwellings.” Isaiah 58:10-12

Purpose

Mission to North America (MNA) is charged by the General Assembly with coordinating the Presbyterian Church in America (PCA) disaster response in the US and Canada. This vital mission is accomplished through disaster preparedness awareness & training in advance of disaster events and by providing support in response to disaster events. Preparedness training is conducted regularly through local and PCA-wide events.

MNA Disaster Response provides support to PCA churches in disaster affected communities through a network of staff and volunteer damage assessment teams, first response teams, site managers, and key leaders. MNA recruits and mobilizes volunteers, receives and distributes supplies and equipment, brings awareness of specific needs, channels recovery funds, focuses prayer and provides spiritual encouragement to our PCA family and their communities.

How to Get Involved

Volunteer!

Volunteers are needed to respond in short-term and long-term recovery efforts after a disaster. You can serve in many different ways:

General Volunteers – Workers, both skilled and unskilled are needed to serve in disaster response. Immediately after a disaster the work of volunteers may include tree and debris removal, chainsaw work tarping roofs, handing out blankets and helping provide warm meals.

Disaster Response Key Leaders – These volunteer leaders serve as the first responders to an affected site to assess the situation after a disaster. Disaster Response Key Leaders coordinate practical assistance to those affected by natural or man-made disasters. Training provided by MNA Disaster Response.

Site Managers – These volunteer key leaders manage daily relief operations at host sites, coordinating volunteers, supplies, and daily work projects. Site managers usually serve from one week to a month or longer, depending upon their availability.Prepare!

MNA Disaster Response offers regular training opportunities for volunteers and churches to learn how to prepare for and respond to disasters. This includes assessment of immediate and long-term needs and determination of strategies for relief efforts, such as clean-up and rebuilding.

Churches and presbyteries can host and participate in on-site training led by MNA Disaster Response staff and other experienced leaders. Churches can also prepare to serve as staging sites after a disaster.

Partner!

You can partner with MNA Disaster Response and become a part of the team!

Pray:

that the Kingdom of God will grow through this ministry

for God to meet all of the needs of MNA Disaster Response

that more churches and presbyteries will partner with MNA Disaster Response to both prepare for and respond to the inevitable disasters

Go:

Participate in a MNA Disaster Response training event for disaster preparedness and response